Mind and Body

More Americans Than Ever Have Asthma

Asthma is on the rise in the U.S., and so is the cost of treating it, according to new information from CDC.

The number of reported asthma cases jumped more than 12 percent between 2001 and 2009, an increase of nearly 4.3 million people. The cost of treating the condition went up as well, from around $53 billion in 2002 to about $56 billion in just five years, says Ileana Arias, Ph.D., at the CDC.

Chronic disease

Asthma is a chronic disease, but it can be controlled by taking medicine and avoiding the triggers that can cause an attack. Asthma causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. The symptoms can be controlled, and attacks prevented, by avoiding triggers and using medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids.

About 50 percent of people with asthma have a severe attack each year; treatment can cost upward of $3,000 per person. According to the CDC, two out of five uninsured people with asthma can't afford medication to treat their condition, compared with one in nine people with insurance.

African-American children were most affected by the increase in asthma, with an almost 50 percent increase in cases between 2001 and 2009. Experts agree that better education and disease management tools are needed in order to reduce the number of severe attacks in at-risk populations.

Limited access

"Because of lack of insurance, many don't have access to medication and physicians," says Shirin Shafazand, M.D., at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. "The message is to try to reduce this disparity."

Although the CDC can't say with certainty what's behind the rise in asthma cases, Dr. Shafazand believes dirtier air and allergens such as dust, pet dander, and secondhand smoke may be driving the increase.

"If you have asthma, you need to take responsibility to talk to your physician and learn what to do and [ask] 'how can I change my lifestyle to improve things?'" Dr. Shafazand says. "In the case of children, the parents need to take that responsibility."

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.

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July 2011

Breathe Easy: Control Your Asthma

Asthma causes the airways within your lungs become inflamed, or swollen. The inflammation makes the airways overly sensitive to substances called triggers that are irritating or that cause an allergic reaction. When that happens, the airways tighten, spasm, swell, become narrower, and produce thick mucus.

These are common asthma triggers:

Dust, mold, pollen, cockroach droppings, and pet dander

Air pollutants, such as tobacco smoke, wood smoke, chemicals in the air, and ozone

Respiratory infections

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Aspirin and similar medications

Cold air

Strenuous exercise

Stress or intense emotion

Asthma can't be cured, but it can be controlled. It's potentially life threatening, and a "mild" case can become worse, so it's important to use your medications properly and avoid asthma triggers as much as possible.

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.